Outage Food, Water, and Communications: The Non-Gadget Backup Plan

Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Backup power is only one part of outage prep. Food, water, communication, medication, lighting, and temperature safety often matter more than another battery purchase.

Food plan

Ready.gov, CDC, and FDA all emphasize the same basic habits:

keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed
use appliance thermometers
know what must be discarded
use coolers and ice when appropriate
when in doubt, throw it out

Ready.gov and CDC give a common planning rule: a closed refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours, and a full freezer can hold temperature much longer if unopened. Use thermometers and official guidance rather than smell or optimism.

Emergency Kit on Fondsites

Outage Food, Water, and Communications: The Non-Gadget Backup Plan

Food plan